Qinghe Province
Qinghe Province, established within the vast region of the Four Great Rivers, was composed of countless sects, cultivation cities, and hereditary clans. Among them, the Four-Leaf Clover Sect stood as a small sect, located in the subdivision of Eastern Heishi, governing a handful of peripheral cities and minor trade routes.
Despite its modest size, the sect was in constant conflict over resources, territory, and influence with its direct rival, the Blazing Battle Sect. However, although sovereign within their respective domains, both sects owed vassalage to the Vushin Martial Temple—the true colossus that dominated the entirety of the southern region of the Four Great Rivers, from the headwaters of the Zan River to the point where the four rivers converged and merged into a single channel.
In Qinghe Province, a sect's influence was not measured by land or wealth, but by the number of powerhouses that upheld it. The stronger its guardians, the greater the respect—and fear—they inspired among neighboring powers. It was this fragile balance of forces that maintained regional stability: a delicate game of mutual restraint that prevented any single sect from growing too powerful and becoming an unavoidable threat.
That was why, even though it was initially confined within the walls of the Four-Leaf Clover Sect, the sermon of the new Guest Elder, Sai, echoed like thunder throughout the entire province.
On that single day, dozens of disciples broke through bottlenecks that had trapped them for years, crossing minor realms and attaining new understandings of cultivation. The phenomenon was far too great to go unnoticed. Spies from neighboring sects were immediately mobilized, sending urgent reports back to their respective leaders.
The profound knowledge of cultivation realms, combined with the new Elder's almost frightening pedagogical ability, threatened to shatter the balance that had been maintained for over a century.
Spring Blossom Palace
Four-Leaf Clover Sect
Shortly after the sermon that sealed a new destiny for the sect, Sect Leader Lin Yao was gathered in the main hall with the three founding elders.
The first was Elder Mu Chen, a man with thick eyebrows and a ferocious gaze; his aura was as abrasive as his explosive temperament.
The second, Elder Guo Zhen, remained calm and unperturbed, his long gray hair tied into a simple bun. His eyes carried depth—and calculation.
The third, Elder Han Xun, appeared perpetually weary, as though he had borne the weight of centuries upon his shoulders. Even so, his silent presence commanded absolute respect.
Lin Yao took a deep breath before speaking.
— "Elders… forgive my presumption, but I must understand," he said, keeping his voice measured. "How did you manage to convince Elder Sai to settle here? From what I have observed, he clearly possesses a background we cannot, under any circumstances, afford to offend."
Upon noticing the vein pulsing on Mu Chen's forehead and the deepening wrinkles in his expression, Lin Yao immediately realized that his question had not been well received.
— "And you think we don't know that, brat?!" Mu Chen snarled. "Obviously, we had no choice!"
Lin Yao's heart leapt.
— "Elder… what do you mean?" he asked, swallowing hard. Despite holding the position of sect leader, he knew all too well that Mu Chen had never cared for titles. He was already mentally bracing himself for a reprimand—or worse.
Before the situation could escalate, Guo Zhen stepped forward.
— "Elder Mu, allow me to clarify the matter for the Sect Leader," he said in a controlled tone. "Your temper is clearly not at its best today."
— "Guo Zhen!" Mu Chen roared, his cultivation aura vibrating throughout the hall.
Han Xun released a long sigh.
No matter how many decades—or centuries—passed, to him those two still behaved like immature disciples arguing before their master.
— "Yao'er," Han Xun continued, choosing to intervene, "on the day Guest Elder Sai appeared, we received him with all the caution and respect the situation demanded. Even so… we did not expect that—"